Lambton County reports its first human case of West Nile Virus of 2020

A resident of Lambton County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus, marking the region's first human case of 2020.

"The confirmed human case is a reminder for Lambton residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent exposure to mosquitoes and to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their property," a statement from Lambton Public Health saidWednesday.

The public health department said it had first confirmed West Nile Virus in mosquito pools in Petrolia and Oil Springs in August.

It's mosquito season until the frost flies

West Nile Virus can be hard to detect in humans. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, only 20to 30 per cent of people infected show symptoms, and the symptoms are often similar to those experienced when people fall ill from a common cold and or flu.

Symptoms range from mildto severe and can include fever, head or body aches, swollen lymph glands and mild rash.

People with mild cases of West Nile Virus generally recover within a week.

LambtonPublic Health saysthat despite the cooler temperatures, mosquito season is not over until frost and cold temperatures set in.

The health unit also reminded people to remove or reduce areas of standing water during fall clean up and take precautions if removing dead birds.

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